Book 8: Harry Potter and the Magic of Science

#SciPopTalks

Book 8: Harry Potter and the Magic of Science

Speaker: Doctor Rebecca Y Lai

When: 7:00pm April 9, 2014

Location: Love Library, Talk Zone in Love South

Description:

J. K. Rowling’s series of Harry Potter books has captured the imaginations of millions of readers of all ages, including many engineers and scientists. Although J.K. Rowling did not major in chemistry in college, she has substantial knowledge of alchemy and has incorporated many chemistry concepts into her books, in particular, the first book titled “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. This lecture aims at introducing both Harry Potter fans and avid chemists to the magic of Hogwarts that exist in our own world (aka chemistry). Specifically, I will address the alchemical concepts used in the books, as well as their relation to modern chemistry. The main topics to be covered in the presentation include the chemistry of gold, the sorcerer’s stone and the elixir of life. Other topics such as invisible ink and food chemistry will also be discussed.

Online Alchemy Exhibits

For thousands of years, alchemists tried various chemical techniques to transmute metals, produce miraculous cures for diseases, and extend the human lifespan. In the process, these early chemists made several genuine discoveries from medicines to useful chemical compounds to new elements. In many ways Alchemy was a "stepping stone" to many modern scientific disciplines including chemistry, anatomy, and nuclear physics.

"'The Magic and Myth of Alchemy' exhibit was created in honor of the International Year of Chemistry, an event celebrated by chemists and chemistry associations throughout 2011." ~ Lloyd Library and Museum

"...a website which explores Worth’s books on ‘alchemy’, chymistry at the universities, chymistry beyond the universities, chymical experiments, works by Robert Boyle and the nature of the chymical physician. " ~Edward Worth Library

The Voynich Manuscript is a 15th century text concerning alchemy, astronomy, and botany. The illustrations inside reveal that its author had at least some understanding of medicine and herbology but all depict impossible machines and imaginary plants. The text is written in a language no one has been able to decipher. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Harvard University has digitized this manuscript and made it available online for perusal by curious researchers.